, 1887-03-10
A Round Up of Washington News
Notes.
BlOoded Horse Owners Trying
to Arrange a Race.
How the President Sat Down Oh
Labor Legislation.
THE EXPERIMENTAL STATION BILL.

WASHINGTON, March 9.-Agricul-
tural colleges are flying the ir flags and
people who are especially interested in
them are rejoicing in consequence of
the passage OF the experimental station
bill, but II question has arisen which
would appear to indicate that the DEM
onstrations are premature. The fifth
section of the bill, the only one relat-
ing to appropriations, says: '"Tho
sum OF $4,000 is hereby appropriated
TO each state, to be specially provided
Tor by congress in appropriations from
year to year from sales of public lands,
the first payment to be made on the
first day OF October, 1857 This sin
gular phraseology has been held to be
an appropriating clause, but close in
spection of il has given rise to doubts,
the weight OF unofficial opinion being
that no money is appropriated. Ii
this is sustained by authorities, the be-
ginning of the new work will be de-
layed until congress acts further.
IN REFERENCE TO INFORMATION.
Re elative to the reported dismissal of
u foreman in the English naval work.
shop at Chatam for selling information,
plans of vessels torpedoes, etc, TO this
government, it is said at the navy de-
partment that so far as this govern
Inent is concerned, there is absolutely
no truth in the charge. In this con-
nection the fact is really that Capt.
Hichborne published a work about II
year ago on British docks and dock
Yards, which, it was said, contained in
formation furnished to him in conf
dence and not for publication. Subse-
quently the author explained the facts
satisfactorily, but it is possible that the
discharge OF the foreman Just reported
= tho result of Capt. Hichbono's pub
lication.
RICH GOLD DISCOVERIES.
Vice-Consul Knight reports to the
department of state concerning the
Transvaal gold fields that the wonder
ful Shelba reef has been eclipsed 10y
another reef, discovered last summer
and known rs the Thomas reef, from
which samples of quartz weighing
5000 pound. it is claimed, yielded 14S
ounces of gold These discoveries
naturally gave'a an impetus to prospect
ing on a large scale, resulting i'll the
discovery OF marvellous, extensive and
rich gold quartz veins. The vice-con-
sui says that he believes, after investi-
eating the best information obtainable
that the Transvaal field, when fully de-
veloped, will prove among the richest
in the world. Recent discoveries have
naturally given rise To no end OF
speculation and mining ventures and
great rush OF capitalists, miners and
adventurers has set in. In Il field neal
Shelba reef the city of Warbeton has
sprung up as if by magic, mum bering
already from 1000 to 5000 people and
is rapidly increasing.
The report concludes 10y cautioninG
persons without means not to venture
in the gold country unless they be
thoroughly practical miners, as the
conditions existing are very hard, and
many will be doomed to bitter disap
pointment.
CLAIM DISALLowED.
Second Comptroller Maynard in
disallowing the claim of j. b. Selby
for additional compensation for serv.
ices rendered as pension agent mt Mil
waukoe, Wis, from August 1st, 1868
TO June 30th, 1866, lays down the
general principle that under the law
the maximum limit of compensation
10 pension agents is $4,000 per yeai
and thas allowance over that amount
provided in the act Of June 3Oth, 1864
to-wit $500 to agents disburslpg over
$4,000 annually, and $3.50 for each adj
ditional $4,000 disbursed, apply only
10 clerk hire, rent and other necessary
expenses.
OFFICE HOLDERS REMOVED.
The president to-day directed the
removal of James ID. Bowie, collector o.
customs at Parkersburg, Virginia, ant
John Henshaw, supervising inspector
OF steam vessels for the third district
which includs the Atlantic coast from
Cape Charles, Virginia, to the extrem,
end of Florida. The latter has twice
been suspended from office and ther
restored to duty because of the failure
OF the senate to act on the nomination
OF his successor. In making these re
m0vals, the president has taken ad
vantage, for tie first time OF the re
peal of the tenure of office act.
LET GO
Although Secretary Manning's re
signation does not take effect until til,
first proximo he virtually severed hi
connection with the department
this afternoon. In accordance
with his expressed wisl
there was no formal leave taking, bu
a very few officials who knew Of hi